The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-11-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital

TIE SUPREME COURT AND THE ANARcHIsTs
As promised last week, the Supreme Court
on Wednesday, Nov 2, rendered a decision in
the application of the seven condemned Chicago
Anarchists for a writ Of error, and the appllca-
tion was denied The decision was read by
Chief Justice Waite in a clear voice, which
could be heard in every part Of the crowded
Supreme Court Room, aud the interest of the
people present counsel and spectators alike
was 80 great that when Justice Waite began
In the matter Of August Spies et al" every
head was leaned forward, and almost every car
was covered with hand in the anxious desire
20 hear every word OF a subject which SO closely
interested the whole American people, as well
az the element of foreign descendants That seeks
20 mtrude communist sentiments OF lawlessness
into our domestic administration. III the GOV
ernor of Ilinois-buff Gen. Oglesby-does not
intervene with executive clomency lor pardon
or mitigation of sentence, the death penalty
will surely be executed upon those enemies of
life, law order and property on Nov. 1.-THE
coming Friday.
The decision Of the Court was OF extra inter
est 10 lawyers throughout the country, by rea-
son of questions of constitutional law raised
by counsel for the defense in the arguments
presented 90 the Court and not only the space
within the bar of the august tribunal sacred To
attorneys on the roll of the Court WAS filed,
but half the seats around the Court outside the
bar were flied with lawyers also.
Notwithstanding the array OF distinguished
counsel that appeared for the appellants, the
decision showed that the Constitutional points
they had advanced were lacking in strength
and weakly supported.
The Chief Justice FIRST stated briefly how the
case came before the Court aud reviewed the
points raised in tho briefs and arguments for
the condemned aud said that from these points
the Court was enabled 20 decide the matter.
As TO the Constitutional points raised under
the FIRST 10 amendments, 10 the effect that the
prisoners had been deprived OF rights of trial
by impartial jury guaranteed therennder, IL
was held that the restrictions were limitations
upon the Federal. and not upon State Govern
ments aud The jury laws of Illinois were not
in violation Of the Constitution or an abridc-
ment of rights of citizens; the jury laws OF
Illinois are similar TO those of New York,
Michigan aud other States, and have been held
heretofore by the Supreme Court to be Consti-
tutionRl Cases in point were cited.
As 10 the Incompetence OF jurors specified,
there was nothing 20 show that the Court be-
low should have rejected them, and, besides, the
defense accepted the jurors when 1t still had
the right of peremptory challenge, aud so lost
the right to appeal ia error.
The plea hat Spies was compelled 10 testify
against himself was overruled on the ground
that he voluntarily went on the stand, and so
was subieri TO cross examination.
The defense did not raise the point during
the trial o. the cause in the court below, that
property rights had been violated in breaking
into houses aud seizing papers, and as no ex-
ception was taken 10 the admission OF such
papers as evidence there is now 40 recourse.
The point made by Gen. Butler OF the de-
Tense, that Spies and Fieden, as foreigners.
could not be deprived of certain rights and
immunties insured by the Constitution was
overrued, because the point was not raised or
decided by the lower court.
The prayer for writ OF error was therefore
denied.
POOR TON DoLAN.
Serg't Thomas J. Doan, formerly Of the 9Th
u. s. Cav, who died recently in hospital here,
after nearly 20 years Of continuous service at
the Executive Mansion AS Mounted Messenger
or Orderly, was a noted character in his way,
and the correspondents are already beginning
20 gossip about him and his quaint ways.
Gen. Grants attention Was attracted TO Dolan
during the war, and for a time the dead Ser
geant had charge of Grants headquarters flag,
and accompanied the General wherever he
went in the field.
When the personal headquarters Of the
army was removed to this city, in 1866. Doan
was detailed Headquarters Orderly, and
went TO the White House when Grant became
President, remaining on duty there under
Hayes, Garfield, Arthur and Cleveland until
his death
He was placed in charge Of the transportation
of the White House mail, aud was perfect
sphynx 20 thosanzi0usly-iHter ones who
had any reason 20 be inQuisitiVe AS 10 letters
coming 20 or going from tie President. In
quiries were met by stony, dazed stare that
locked Ike the vacancy produced by liquor,
and many VINO did not know poor D0lan well
1anciod that his normal condition was that Of
semi-unconscious stupidity from drink. They
were mistaken, though, for Dolan was too thor
Oughly trained a soldier TO ever tip of his
grog while on duty, aud the silent starc-he
never answered questions from outsiders as 10
his mail-was his shrcwd method OF rebuking
obtrusiNe impcrtinuuce.
He WAS remarkably quiet, and would sit in
his chair IN the Executive ante room for hours
without speaking word 20 anyone, or hardly
looking TO lett or right, until he was called
for duty. Then the stupid clod became ia
stantly live nan, and taking his mail -sachel
over his shoulder he would tumble down the
long stairs, rush out across the wide portico,
and swing into his saddle TO gallop of as ii
boots Hud saddles" had sounded for a night
attack in tho field.
When one came 10 know him well, and pen
etrated beneath the official disguise of APPARENT
Etoldness, he proved TO be as jOvial. witty aud
shrcwd as one of Charles Levers typical Irish
Dragons
DEEP-sEA CRUISE
Tho u. S. Fish Commission steamer Albatross
which Is now lying al the Washington Navy
Yard, VIII sail very soon on a long cruise VII lei
up along the west coast OF South America to
San Francisco. The original idea OF the late
Pr0fiBaird 10 send this ship westward from the
South American coast 10 prowi around through
the South Sea Islands was bandoned By that
eminent scientist just before lis death, and
while decp-gca dredging AID doep-sca sounding
will be made along the route OF the ship, the
cruise will not he extended on that account
O1-sh0rc lines OF sounding will be run along
the coast OF South Alnclica-east aud wcst--tC
determine various questions of currents and
deepsCa temperatures that are now little
known Of 40 has been less than hall a decade
OF ycars since a Coast Survey examination dis
covered how shallow bed the Gulf Stream occn.
pies M Atlantic waters aud much less is known
now OF the mighty currents that sweep alunl
the PERCEPTIONS west coast of the southern eK,
uemlUy oil the Continent. Much less is known
of the vast cEpansc Of the Southern PHcih,
than the mighty Z" kiro silva black stream
TINT sweeps nOrtiward past the Islands O
Japan and gives Alaska the temperature q
Southern England. The proposed cruise is in
good hands Capt. Hcra l.. Tanner, the com
manding officer, ls u scienii iic observer as wei
81 the most thorough scamen and nayi
gators this: ever tTOG q dctk Ii was be tia
made the cruise four years ago IN the Carribcai
that mapped out thoroughly the bottom o
those Hlde waters
FERMENTATION AT THE PENSION OFFICE
Maj. J. H. Smith, who made fine record n
1he krlv 81 tltc polomnc "a commander NJ fbl